This blog is a result of the heavy censoring of the media by the military dictatorship regime.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

NFP whip replies to budget

"This is a budget full of smokescreens with the reality being our debt level will increase to 50.4% of our

nominal GDP or close to $5 billion"

"Where is the justification for allocating the largest chunk of our Budget towards FRA?And what is the return on such massive injection of capital? Has it attracted investment and created more jobs? Has it resulted in a productive agricultural sector and increased our exports?"

The sugar industry’s best hope of recovery 10 years ago was derailed by the December 2006 coup. The military government deliberately sacrificed the injection of a $350 million grant to the industry by the European Union

NFP Whip Prem Singh addresses Budget concerns

Madam Speaker

On 24thSeptember last year, in my responseto

HisExcellency the President’s address, which was
basically a blueprint for Governmentprogrammesfor the ensuing year, What I said then is pertinent to what we are
debating in Parliament, and I quote :

“True nationhood,
common and equal citizenry can only be achieved if we collectively start doing
some of the following:

“Economic growth to generate employment; Meritocracy in the civil
service and appointments being made at least in proportionate to the population
of our ethnic groups; As a start having a quota for recruitment of personnel
from other ethnic groups in the military, again on meritocracy to give it a
semblance of multiracialism; Having bipartisan committees to collectively look
at serious challenges facing sectors like the sugar industry, health and
medical services”

“My
point hereis that its all very well to finger-wag
on what should be acceptable parliamentary conduct and what it is not, butreciprocity,
humanity and national interestshould be our guiding values if are to
succeed at bipartisanship, and not arrogance and condescension. We on this side
of Parliament continue to offer our hands for bipartisanship. it is now up to
the other side to reciprocate sincerity and respect in the national interest”.

Unfortunately
Madam Speaker the 2016-2017 Budget falls far short of the above
principles and values. This budget is like a smokescreen, trying to camouflage
the reality. The reality is that there was no need whatsoever for a new Budget.
Budgetary provisions for Tropical Cyclone Winston rehabilitation could have
been made without this process.

The
reality Madam Speaker is that even without around $208 million allocation for
TC Winston recovery, our true financial position is not what is being portrayed
in this Budget.The revenue estimates and actual revenue illustrate
this point.

In 2014revenue estimate wasover
$2.7 billion. But the actual revenue was $2.370 billion – a shortfall of
more than $350 million.

The
2015 budget had estimated revenue at $3.122 billion. The actual revenue was
$2.552 billion – a shortfall of $570 million.For 2016-2017, revenue is estimated to
be $3.175 billion as per the estimates. But the supplementary document
forecasts this to be $2.868 billion. Two different forecasts, Madam Speaker! So which is right?

That is
why we are saying this is a budget full of smokescreens with the reality being
our debt level will increase to 50.4% of our nominal GDP or close to $5
billion.

TheHonourablePrime Ministeryesterday said his Government was not
going to burden the people of Fiji with more taxes to pay for TC Winston
rehabilitation. But are we not bequeathingour people and future generations with
rising debt? Why couldn’t Government be more prudent with the budget process
and diverted funds from allocations that do nothing towards nation building or
contribute to our social and economic advancement?

A lot
of examples of wastage have been given during this debate. However Madam
Speaker, I am particularly interested in budgetary allocations towards the Fiji
Roads Authority becauseFRA’s importance wasdramatisedin Parliament yesterday by theHonourableMinister for Works and Infrastructure.

From
the 2013 Budget to this Budget a total of $2.726 billion has been allocated to
FRA. In 2013 the FRA was allocated $422 million. In 2014 the FRA
budget was revised upwards to $489 million. In $2015 $653 million was
allocated. In 2016 $635 million was given to FRA and now almost $528 million
has been allocated to FRA.

What is
the productivity or output Madam Speaker? I expected theHonourableMinister to inform Parliament how much of $2.726
billion has been used for capital construction – that is roads, bridges and
jetties. And of course how much of it has been used for management and
technical expertise?

Because
$2.726 billion over a period of four years is a lot of money Madam
Speaker. And despite this massive funding, Government has failed to
construct two bridges in Suva that have been closed in the last four
years.And despite the colossal funding, FRA failed to
regularly check the state of theTamavua-i-waibridge in the last four years – a bridge that is the
only link to outerVitiLevufrom the Capital via Queens Road! The FRA admitted
that the bridge was last inspected 4 years ago. This is the height of
irresponsibility.

Madam
Speaker, in comparison to this fiasco, it took an average of four years each to
build the Ba and Sigatoka Bridges after they were destroyed during Cyclone Kina
in 1993 and the newRewabridge 10 years ago. And they are major bridges, not
slides and swings!

FRA under fire for taking so long to rebuild bridges, including Sigatoka

Where is the justification for allocating the largest chunk of our
Budget towards FRA?And what is the return on such massive injection
of capital? Has it attracted investment and created more jobs? Has it
resulted in a productive agricultural sector and increased our exports?

While
Government keeps giving the largest chuck of our budget to FRA, debt continues
to rise. This budget has allocated $448 million to service our debt.

Of this
the interest payments alone is almost a massive $285 million - $52.5 million
for overseas loans and almost $232.5 million for domestic loans.

Essentially,
a sum of $448 million for debt servicing is $240 million more than funds
allocated for TC Winston rehabilitation. If this is the Fiji First Government’s
version of prudent financialmanagement, then God help Fiji.

In the
last ten years since the military coup of December 2006, our debt has increased
by more than $2.2 billion. So we are praying the price for this extensive
borrowing against what is more than likely an inflated and cosmetic nominal GDP
to make our credit ratings or debt and deficit levels good. How can the nominal
GDP increase this year in the aftermath of the destruction caused by TC
Winston?

Madam
Speaker, despite what Government says, the Budget for Republic of FijiMilitary
Forces continues to generate controversy. And rightly so. The total RFMF budget
is $178 million including peacekeeping. Again Madam Speaker, this is only $30
million less than the allocation of $208 for TC Winston rehabilitation – a
cyclone caused devastation and has caused $1.42 billion of damage and losses.
We are allocating money towards what Madam Speaker – to help them make a
transition and understand civilian control as stated by theHonourableMinister forDefenceon 3rdSeptember 2015 during an interview with The Fiji Times?

And
Madam Speaker, unlike othercivil servants and even members of the Fiji Police
Force,whose individual salaries are documented by the Public
Service Commission,the salaries of our military personnel are not made
public. So where is the transparency which is a prerequisite in a civilian
society?

And
talking of salaries Madam Speaker, we need awell-paidandwell-resourcedpublic service. The average salaries of our nurses is $18,000 and this does not take into
account their work experience. I am told senior nurses earn the same as nurses
entering the profession. Similarly, our teachers’ starting salary is around
$12,500. Teachers who have spent more than 25 years in the profession earn less
than $25,000.

In the
last 10 years the salaries of our civil servants have not been fairly adjusted.
In comparison Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister’s base salary in 2006 was
$106,000. Since October 2014, it is $328,750. The base salary has
increased by a massive 210% through a Decree promulgated a few days before the
start of parliamentary democracy in October 2014.

Surely,
our teachers, nurses and ordinary civil servants do not want such a massive rate of salary increase but something
commensurate with their experience and cost of living accrued in the last ten
years.

Madam
Speaker, as a cane grower, the sugar industry is very close to my heart. For
more than 100 years the sugar industry has been the backbone of our economy.

For
more than 100 years, including the indenture period, the sugar industry has
weathered many storms and defined the national landscape. It has survived
cyclones, floods, droughts, two World Wars, industrial and political strikes,
and political upheavals.

But
finally, an industry which has directly or indirectly supported a quarter of
Fiji’s population across races, throughout history is now bleeding to death,
Madam Speaker. Industry stakeholders have run out of answers on how to revive
it.

The
industry’s best hope of recovery 10 years ago was derailed by the December 2006
coup. The military government deliberately sacrificed the injection of a $350
million grant to the industry by the European Union. Had this materialized,
Madam Speaker, Fiji from 2011 onwards would have been producing a minimum of 4
milliontonnesof cane and 400,000tonnesof sugar, using more efficient methods than we are
using now.

Madam
Speaker, sugar is a “lifeblood” industry. It is far too important for it to be
allowed to die. But this government, both as a military regime and now as the
Fiji First administration, instead of providing both theoretical and practical solutions,has been adopting a fire-fighting approach, which in
reality just like most fires witnessed in the country in the last two years,
has destroyed the properties it was supposed to protect.

In 2006
when the industry structure was intact and we had input of politicians in the
industry, there were 18,636 active growers who produced 3.226 milliontonnesof cane. The four mills produced a total of 310, 140tonnesof sugar at a TCTS of 10.4.

In
2015, after the military regime and Fiji First Government have been in charge of
the industry for 9 years, the number of active growers had fallen to 12,872.
They produced 1.84 milliontonnesof cane. The four mills produced 221,934tonnesof sugar at a TCTS ratio of 8.3.

So it
is clear where the fault lies Madam Speaker. Not with the politicians, but
squarely with this Government, which haspoliticisedthe industry like never before. People who cannot tell
the root of a cane plant from its top are tasked with making decisions to the
detriment of the growers and the industry as a whole.

Much
has been made of the $11 million cane developmentprogrammeand the fertilizer subsidy of $9.7 million, which was
a loan in the previous two budgets and there is nothing in this Budget to say
it is a grant.

The
closure of the Penang Mill will cause untold misery to thevanuaand people of Ra. Government has allocated $2.5
million to cart cane from Penang toRarawaiMill. Madam Speaker, the cost of repairing the mill
would be around $3 million and these repairs can be completed within 16 weeks.
This was relayed to me by former FSC Engineers. One must recall that following
devastation caused by Cyclone Ami and flooding in January 2003, theLabasaMill was repaired in time for the start of crushing
that same season.

The
growers are in a limbo because there is no clear indication from the Government
on whether the Mill will be repaired at all. There is confusion following the
PM’s statement to ISO in Turkey that co-generation and syrup mill projects have
been put on hold. This statement comes soon after the FSC Executive Chairman
repeatedlytoldgrowers that a new mill will be ready for operations
next year.

Madam
Speaker in the meantime FSC continues to cannibalize the Penang Mil by
stripping it of parts as if the Mill is a derelict and will be closedforever.

Madam
Speaker, the massive crop rehabilitationprogrammefollowing the prolonged drought of 1998 has been
conveniently forgotten by many includingthisGovernment.
Thethen SVT government, following negotiations by then Opposition National
Federation Party,granted almost $43 millionin rehabilitation package that increased
the cane crop to 4 milliontonnesin 1999. That was real, genuine and direct assistance.
But the Fiji First Government has other ideas.

Madam
Speaker, it is clear that Government thinks the Reform of the Sugar Cane
Industry Bill and the Sugar Cane Growers Fund (Amendment) Bill will
rescue the industry. This is also stated in the Budget, which under-pins the
long-term viability of the industry on these Bills.However this is hallucination on the
part of Government. Forget about the sugar industry if cane growers are
subjugated.

This isexactlywhat
Bills Number 19 and 20 aim to do.I
declare my interest in this matter Madam Speaker, both as a cane grower and as
a member of the parliamentary standing committee on Economic Affairs. But the
overwhelmingrejection of the two Billsis as clear as daylight. No caring government will dare to proceed with these two Bills
because this will result in the death of the industry. And this is why
Madam Speaker: -

The Register of Cane
Growerswill no longer be in the hands of the Tribunal. It will be with Fiji
Sugar Corporation. A registration of a grower can be cancelled by FSC on
its own or upon the order of the Minister for Sugar. This is the height ofpoliticisation.

A grower cannot
terminate the services of his or her employee whether it is a farm hand or cane
cutterwithout notifying the Permanent Secretary for Sugar who can sit on the matter for 7
days while the employee continues to disregard a grower. If a termination
happens without this process, a grower commits an offence. This is
preposterous.

Madam Speaker theMaster Awardprovisions of the
Bill is like a noose around growers’ necks. The Minister for Sugar has powers
to revoke the Master Award. The Minister then can make the Master Award in
consultation with the FSC and Growers Council. Both are fully controlled by
Government. Where is the voice of growers? A draft Master Award will be subject
to public hearings. It will be a product of Government, FSC and SCGC – all
politically controlled.

Madam Speaker, This
is like putting the cart before the horse. Even if other stakeholders and
representatives of growers suggest changes, such changes will only be
incorporated in the Master Award if it is agreeable to both FSC and SCGC. This
will not happen because of the political control by Government of bothorganisations.

The current master award, which continues until it is revoked, was a
product of public consultation. It wasn’t a ready-made document as will be the
case under this Bill. In his submission to the Economic Affairs Committee, the
Registrar to the Tribunal revealed that the Quality Cane Payment will come into
force next year. This is shockingMadam Speakerbecause growers don’t know about it.

It will mean the
unilateral revocation of the master award and the current sharing formula of
proceeds from the sale of sugar of 70/30 infavourof growers will be abolished. The current Master Award
must be retained and any variation in future referred to the Tribunal for
determination. THE MASTER AWARD IS A JUDICIAL DOCUMENT. IT IS AN AWARD. IT IS
TOTAL INJUSTICE THAT A POLITICIAN CAN REVOKE THE MASTER AWARD. THIS IS
UNLAWFUL.

Once again Madam
Speaker, this Budget is a smokescreen. It camouflagesthe illsplaguing our nation. This is the reality.

30 comments:

Ratu Saikusa.
said...

Ratu Isoa the sugar industry has been derailed by Rabuka and Qarase. During their era thousands of leases expired and in hatred and jealousy the hardworking Indian farmers were evicted without much notice. Those lands are lying idle and are full of lush bushes. I tell you Isoa it is our people who don't want to do sugar cane farming. You have to blame our blame. Now also the Indians don't want to do sugar cane farming. You have to blame Qarase and Rabuka also for poor roading, infrastructure as they didn't spend money on capital works.

Thank you Hon Prem Singh, you have highlighted just a few of the glaring holes in FFP's budget that needs to be answered with verifiable evidence to the contrary, which will be very flimsy. I bet the response will be littered with unnecessarily jargon-filled, but really just baseless and baseless waffle from Hon Aiyaz. GDP figures need to be relooked at as well because the RBF is undoubtedly a spineless, useless and compliant institution full of lickers and suckers of Aiyaz's anatomy. The story about FRA is simple, it is nothing more than a convenient vehicle for Aiyaz, Frank and cronies to dip into. There is really nothing to show for all that money of around $1.8b allocated in the last 3 years to FRA. Otherwise we would have seen the makings of a super highway between Suva and West, plus maybe state of the art urban transport infrastructure in the capital and other cities. What a fucking lie! Curse them all including their cowardly protectors (Fiji Army) to rot in hell together with their descendents.

Saikusa please note Rabuka is a good man. He was used by Ratu Mara, Alliance and Ratu Penaia clan. He is a changed man. He has more Indian friends now than i-Taukei's and he trusts Indian people more than others. Please give him ago and let Biman his Deputy Leader. Past is past, bygone is bygone.

Oh "Rabuka is a good man" because he did the coups in 87 and what other year??Fathered countless bastards all over the place!! John Snow could easily be counted!! If Rabuka is a good man then Trump is my uncle!!

Isa...man Rabuka is a good christian ok. God spoke to him so he did what god wanted. God is always right. The ever so powerful God trusted Rabuka that he could carry out the coup and give us Itaukei our rights back. God works in mysterious ways ok. I will vote for Rabuka because God wills it. I trust God to make the right decision.

Babara Deaver again did negative reporting about Fiji. Yesterday the bitch did extensive coverage about murdered Russian couples in Natadola on TVNZ six o'clock news. The crime rate in NZ is much higher than Fiji. Today parts of Mangere Auckland was closed due to ISIS threat. The Arms Defenders were called last week in Palmerston North and today in Mangere. How will Babara feel if this is reported in China, Japan and Australia? The slut needs a big waidina banana.

Concerned Kiwi, there was nothing negative in the reporting. The Russians were butchered. Bodies were cut into pieces possibly by their own chainsaw and thrown away. This is the kind of crime present in Fiji. Everyone must know this. kai and Bai unable to do anything now. They opened doors to organised crime. Wake up. Today's Fiji is not the Fiji you left behind.

No visitor or tourist can be safe in Fiji. Crime very very high. ISIS also in big way here, set up strong network. Wait till they start attacking tourists form US and Aust. That is their plan. They know maximum damage to American and Aussies can be done from Fiji

Nothing will happen to tourists or people in Fiji. You know why? Because Fiji is a christian country and God will protect us from all Evil. God will speak to Rabuka again and bless him with the word to guide us away from the kailoma intruders and indians.

As we all pray and wish upon our future for peace,stability and prosperity.We should all take a moment and listen to ourselves.How can our prayers and wishes be granted if we continue to bicker and belittle each other's race and creed.Good day to you all and GodBless/OneLove!!

Hey, anyone know where Navi Naisoro is at? Now that Rabuka seems to bon his way back to where he should have been in the first place. Navi could be the brain to make things happen for him???? Sorry Khai youare the target that's for sure!!!

The chunk of budget allocated to FRA is necessary. Capital work is a major government project which require more funds, personnel expertise, skills and trade, leadership and proper planning. For a number of years to this day the ministry tasked to carry out this enormous task have always had problems in completing major projects both long and short term. Most of the projects planned to complete in a set period ran short of money so the total project was put off or put on hold to await the next budget. This is poor planning and bad leadership. If you travel down construction sites on roads, buildings, bridges etc, what you'll see are workers idling time on talking, cooking, sitting, on the phone or having grog and tea during working hours. This is time wasted.. Unproductive. Dishonest and unethical behaviours of workers- top to bottom-multiply the problem.I bad a bad experience in the past where a team of casual workers headed by a senior officer in a ministry were tasked to carry out a government project closer to my home. A government owned pipe line was partially on my piece of land and their task was to erect a fence to secure the pipe. It started off well and just 3 weeks into the job, the task was abandoned. I made enquiries and was told that budget for that project had exhausted. That project is still left incomplete to this day. This is what I saw in those 3 weeks. The team played touch rugby and soccer while waiting for project materials to arrive. Materials were delivered after 3 days or a week or not delivered at all. Supervisor was not always available. Team were partying during meal breaks(3 times a day). After lunch they napped. This is what I witnessed. By the end of the 3rd week that project came to a premature end because funds were used up....on what? When I queried the head office I was told that the boys had to be paid.This is why we have incomplete bridges, poor roads and delayed works on capital projects because of a work culture that needs to be addressed and dealt with immediately. The culture of obtaining false sick leave, grog drinking and lengthy meal breaks , dishonest work, etc during working hours are examples of why progress is not made.

Typicle Kaiviti work ethic. Why on earth do you think the indians were brought into work the cane fields? Majority of Fijians are Lazy. There are the minority of Fijians that do extremely well in the workplace and out do expat workers but these are the fair few.

7.10pmThe Indentured of course were brought in not because the natives were lazy but they listened and took directives only from their chiefs not from a foreigner and his system. It's a way of life . That is a culture gradually disappearing over time because of mordenisation and progress . In the near past till today the poor work ethic we are discussing here applied to all section of community. Didn't you see in outdoor labour works workers were drinking kava from a piala. Now that is certainly not a kaiviti cup. It is Indian.

FRA is doing fuckall. Check out the management consultancy fees and try reconcile that with work done on the ground. they all laughing their way to the bank there including the payoff to homosexual pig fucker Aiyaz Khaiyum. It is our hard earned money illegally and illegitimately going down their private pockets. Make it worse they protected by the most cowardly military force in the world. They are selling arms to Muslims and Kaidia people up there in the barracks. ni yadra mai na kaiviti, o ira noda sotia era sa voli tu. era sa vakavutuka tu nodra sona o ira na muslim kei na hindu. Era sa ulu lala qai sona levu. We cannot expect much from these uneducated, overrated and cowardly glorified Fiji Military Forces establishment

Hon Prem Singh, you have hit the nail on the head and if the Government cannot respond to your fundamental questions, then it really shows how fucked up and stupid they are, and worse, assume that we are just as stupid as they are. An I fully agree that the Fiji Military Forces are no more than a bunch of illiterate, overpaid and underworked cowards who easily surrender at the first sight of armed elements but at home they walk around with medals on their chest and intimidate and kill unarmed civilians.

Please STOP accusing OUR Military Soldiers Boys with all sorts of abusive languages because they just carrying out orders from their seniors officers. There will be a time when those orders become so monotonous and dreadful, then disobedience, rebellious and mutiny would be the scene of the day because the ORDERS were UNLAWFUL.

Secondly, they had seen enough of personal agendas and nepotism within ranks and files of the 2 former Commanders. Promoting their own kind, family and informants.

By NOW they are fully aware of everything and realized where they stand today after the Coup’s of Rabuka and Bainimarama gone wrong in accordance to the ORDERS, INSTRUCTIONS and BREIFINGS they obeyed.

I beg you all to LEAVE OUR SOLDIERS BOYS ALONE WITH THEIR COMMANDER. 99.5% are GOOD and WONDERFUL SOLDIER BOYS.

Hey i hear that Mr. Rabuka is back in politic and is running the SODELPAparty? Has he been elected by party members? Did he won the electionover Ro Teimumu?I still think that he needs to be in that position-someone need to smarten up Bhaini and Khaiyum?

Interesting selection by Sodelpa of original coup leader,Rabuka as new party leader.This leaves Fiji's two major parties with..yes..two criminally untried traitors at the helm.

First of all, congratulations to Sodelpa for it's internal democratic system of election.This would never had happened if someone challenged Voreqe and Khaiyum in FF.They would have been stripped and made to run around naked around the military barracks before bring thrown in jail and charged with treason.

The move to install Rabuka can be seen to be a master stroke..ie..horses for courses case. Na Marama has had her time at the helm and my following explanation will justify that the decision is a correct one.Party followers just have to maintain the rage with Rabuka.

Some are saying that this move will spell the death of Sodelpa but Fijians have been proven to be fickle people who would politically vote purely on self interest. By placing coup makers at the helm of their parties, FF and Sodelpa are sending a clear signal to future coup instigators that they too can be accepted politically.

In Fiji, having a party leader not smeared by coup involvement is no guarantee to an election win. A clear example was in the recent elections where the prevailing thought was that Fijians were totally against the 2006 coup and years of harsh military dictatorship.The choice of Ro Temumu as election leader to win over the coup leader was all but a forgone conclusion. She was a paramount chief, a strong Christian who was not associated with the 2000 coup and condemned the 2006 coup publicly.

But the people saw differently and voted for a person who had tortured the country,its citizens and even their neighbors for the past 9 years. Bainimarama, being a traitor, dictator and coup leader was not an election issue with voters if he could fulfill their self interest. This outcome would never eventuate in the major democratic countries around the world.The fact that voters in Fiji will overlook crimes to elect coup leaders gives confidence to people like Rabuka and Voreqe.

Fiji's democracy has been ruled by elected coup leaders for 65% of it's post independence period.What does this say about the voting population? It is clear that Fijians (Fijians & i taukei) have supported all coups carried out in Fiji depending on the promises from coup maker.In the 1987 coup, the Fijians clearly voted for Rabuka after that, in 2006 it was the Indians and others which even led to FLP & other non i-taukei organisations jumping on the bandwagon.

Where does this leave Fiji? Well, the wheel has turned full cycle because coup makers are now a part of the political landscape..Some will continue to vote for Bainimarama and their opposition will vote for Rabuka. Bainimarama cannot rubbish Rabuka (Snake) and vice versa because it is akin to pointing the finger at one-self.

If you were anti-Voreqe /Khaiyum then Rabuka is the best available option to defeat them at the polls.Soldiers will identify with Rabuka because he is real soldier and not a navy man.He has higher rank that Voreqe, a former Empire Games Fiji representative, a noted boxer, an established statesman internationally, pro vanua, pro military, pro church and pro GCC. During the mutiny, whilst Voreqe had abandoned his post in the height of battle and breaking land speed records through the cassava patch, Rabuka arrived calmly at the gates, entering and intervening in the dispute between his troops.

Watch this space as the war of words heats up because a python (Voreqe) and an anaconda (Rabuka) cannot live in the same space. In the end, the anaconda will swallow up the python.

The Rabuka choice is clearly a strategy to dismantle the Bainimarama and Khaiyum regime. Rabuka is a genuine soldier for whom soldiers up at QEB can associate with. The military council has long been disgruntled with the Bainimarama's leaning towards Khaiyum and the Muslim brotherhood and the long term conflict has seen casualties such as Driti, Mara and the list goes on.

Voreqe cannot push Rabuka around because Siti clearly understands how the military operates. Bainimarama's election winning message was about a Fiji that does not discriminate along racial lines but his greatest contradiction is maintaining a military that is 99% i taukei for self interest. This may be his downfall because Rabuka can easily convince the troops of their manipulation by Voreqe and his Muslims over the past 16 years which has seen the soldiers duped into killing their own kind, harassing their chiefs, restricting the activities of the Methodist church which has the largest i taukei attendance, taking away Fijian indigenous rights (land and identity theft), responsible for the largest exodus of indigenous Fijians out of their own country by force and so forth.

At the end of the day, since 2006 Fijian soldiers were the ones manipulated by Voreqe and Khaiyum and the military is deeply divided. Voreqe and Khaiyum has perpetuated division in Fiji by their unsubstantiated scare tactics in regards to the coup of 2000 where evidence is now clear that he played a main role which eventually led to the 2006 coup

Rabuka is one shining light for the opposition and his presence will certainly have an influence up at the barracks, the Police Force and so forth.

As the next election draws near, Voreqe and Khaiyum may trump up criminally charges against him ,as they did with Qarase and other political party leaders to give FF the edge. But things will backfire if they try to arrest Rabuka.

A-G: Brexit has no short-term impactRopate ValemeiMonday, July 11, 2016Participants at the Fiji Business Forum in Suva on Saturday. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA+ Enlarge this imageParticipants at the Fiji Business Forum in Suva on Saturday. Picture: JOVESA NAISUABRITAIN'S exit (BREXIT) from the EU might give Fiji the opportunity to deal directly with the UK.

This is one of the issues highlighted by Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyun during the Fiji Business Forum in Suva on Saturday.

However, in the short to medium-term, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there would be no impact on the agreement Fiji had with the EU.

This means Fiji has a preferential quota agreement with the EU for sugar exports. Fiji will still have access to the larger EU market until the expiry of the agreement in October next year.

"Of course in the past few years, we have seen the EU pricing was below the market price that had been offered.

"Government was able to make some adjustments during the Bainimarama Government time to say that given the market price is higher than the EU price, they should also make some adjustments. Those adjustments actually took place," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

"So Brexit will do. Short to medium term will have no impact on the agreement we have with the EU. But some argue that Brexit may give us some opportunities with UK directly. So we will see."

The central bank had earlier stated that it will continue to closely monitor the developments and look out for possible negative spillovers to our major trading partner countries and align the monetary policy accordingly.

Reserve Bank of Fiji governor Barry Whiteside told this newspaper that the impact on the country's tourism industry was expected to be limited.

"Visitors from the UK account for around 2-3 per cent of total tourist arrivals representing around 3 per cent of total tourism earnings.

"Given that Article 50 of Lisbon Treaty allows a two-year window of negotiations for new relations between UK and the EU, any adverse impact to the global economy and Fiji's trading partners will be reflected more over the medium to long-term.

Therefore, at this stage, Mr Whiteside said it was still premature to quantify the full implications of Brexit on the Fijian economy.

Fiji is part of the former colonies of the EU which include Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific when it comes to the access to the European market.

@concerned Fiji Indian in NZ, what the fuck you doing in NZ ? Go and suck Khaiyum and Bainimarama in Fiji. It's arsehole Fiji Indians like you who have given the Fiji Indians a bad name. You are someone with no principles. So we don't give a fuck about what you say. Give me what Barbara Beaver says any day!

Whatever the Dishonorable Ayarse Sodumb-Khaiyum comes up with, the opposition through people such as Honorable Prem Singh grills him right back because almost everything the current regime does is nothing but constant smokescreens to hide the stark reality of the country being run into the ground with this ever-mounting debt.

Even the recent budget announcement is bound to have its hidden flaws.

Source has it that since Rabuka's appointment to the Sodelpa leadership, one VB has been tirelessly commuting between government buildings and the camp to re-enforce military support for the FF dictatorship.Given that the likes of Naupoto,Qiliho,Kean,Seruiratu etc..are now "out of the camp", the young up and coming troop of RFMF military officers feel that they do not have allegiance to the "coup mob" of 2006.

Given the recent Turkish military coup debacle, these new regular Fijian military officers have seen how devastation can be inflicted on their nation when greedy and corrupt military commanders become traitors to their own people.The Fijians also learn,"People Power" to stop military traitors overthrowing democracy as in 2006.Citizen loyal military officers should make every effort to overthrow dictators like Bainimarama and bring them to justice.

It is time to right the ship, get rid of the evil "Immunity From Criminal Prosecution" Decrees in the Constitution (No-one is above the law), throw coup beneficiaries in jail and have a major clean up of the military, government and society.Everyone who supported the coup of 2006 should be rounded up and thrown in jail.

If Turkey can do it so can Fijians...!!!Throw military traitors and their supporters in jail to face the death penalty...!!!